Former Senate Majority Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has said fifth columnists are working hard to sabotage the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, imploring the president to reduce fuel and food prices.

He said the astronomical increase in the prices of fuel, food, essential goods and services is becoming unaffordable to average Nigerians and the poor that form the majority.

In a statement in Abuja, Ndume said the bad elements were trying hard to pitch the people against the administration of Tinubu by pushing for harsh reforms and bad policies instead of controlling inflation and exchange rate that are making life unbearable for Nigerians.

He said those who are bent on making the President look bad will stop at nothing in inflicting pains on Nigerians through the “so-called reforms until things get out of hand and the blame will be on President Tinubu.”

Ndume noted that many families could barely meet up with daily demands in their houses as a result of the hyperinflation caused by incessant increase in the price of essential goods and services.

Ndume said: “I’m appealing to him to resist these bad people who want to pitch the people against his administration. The hardship these people are inflicting on Nigerians is becoming unbearable. I’m currently in Borno, and I know what I’m talking about. People are really suffering, hungry, frustrated and angry.

“In Borno State, many families can’t even feed anymore. The untold hardship of these frequent increases in the prices is unimaginable. Farmers cannot even move their farm products anymore because of the high cost of transportation.

“Those who can still do this add the cost of transportation to the prices of food items they sell, and that’s why many people can’t feed again. People can’t travel anymore. To travel by road from Abuja to Maiduguri, for instance, is a fortune. How many of our people can afford that?

“I know that President Tinubu means well for Nigerians, and therefore he should not stay back and allow a few bad advisers to destroy this country. That’s why I’m begging him to do something before it is too late. It is not good to test the patience of Nigerians, and that’s exactly what these bad advisers are doing.”